According to Head of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) for Agriculture, Plantation and Animal Husbandry, M. Hadi Nainggolan, Indonesia is highly dependent on imported garlic. However, he claims that this often leads to organized crime involvement.
“Only a few companies that are mutually related get benefit from the garlic import quota,” Hadi said on May 24. He cited data from the Agriculture Ministry that the national garlic consumption need in 2023 amounts to 560,000 tons. Meanwhile, domestic garlic production in 2020 only reached 81,800 tons.
“HIPMI indicates that the garlic import cartel has increasingly strong backing ahead of the elections, including the 2024 elections,” Hadi added. He hoped that the government and law enforcers will act decisively to maintain a healthier trade system.
Source: en.tempo.co